NASCAR's Stars & Stripes Weekend to salute veterans

Brian Lawdermilk / Chicagoland Speedway

Stars & Stripes Weekend at Chicagoland Speedway brings the NASCAR National Series, including NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overton’s 225 on June 29, NASCAR Xfinity Series Overton’s 300 on June 30 and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton’s 400 on July 1.

Stars & Stripes Weekend at Chicagoland Speedway brings the NASCAR National Series, including NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overton’s 225 on June 29, NASCAR Xfinity Series Overton’s 300 on June 30 and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton’s 400 on July 1. (Brian Lawdermilk / Chicagoland Speedway)

Stock car racers won’t be the only ones revving things up and racking the applause at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet.

Veterans, too, will take the spotlight during Stars & Stripes Weekend before the Fourth of July.

“It’s a natural fit between Memorial Day and Fourth of July to honor those who’ve fought for our liberties and freedoms,” speedway president Scott Paddock said. “They can’t be forgotten.”

In addition to the NASCAR National Series — Camping World Truck Series Overton’s 225, Xfinity Series Overton’s 300 and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton’s 400 — the weekend will feature military and veterans’ organizations from the Southland and beyond.

Champions Park, the grassy area between the main gate and parking lots, will be transformed into the interactive Freedom Walk.

The Sandwich-based Illinois Fallen Hero Wall and Native Veteran Wall of Honor will be on display along with military vehicles courtesy of Joe Werner, the former mayor of Mokena and founder of Veterans Garage, a chapter of the Military Vehicles Preservation Association, and Doug Mayhall, a Mokena resident bringing a World War II Scout armored car and other rare finds.

Erin Gallagher

Joe Werner, the former mayor of Mokena and founder of Veterans Garage, a chapter of the Military Vehicles Preservation Association, will display military vehicles during Stars & Stripes Weekend at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet.

Joe Werner, the former mayor of Mokena and founder of Veterans Garage, a chapter of the Military Vehicles Preservation Association, will display military vehicles during Stars & Stripes Weekend at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet. (Erin Gallagher)

Mayhall also will fly his World War II two-seater plane during the Honor Ceremony at 10 a.m. June 30 to be emceed by Quincy McCall, an Army veteran and director of nearby Abraham National Cemetery from which the John Whiteside Memorial Squad will serve as color guard and render honors.

As “Taps” is played the names of the fallen will be displayed on a screen.

During the ceremony, which is free to attend, the Midlothian nonprofit Cheers to the Warriors will award a grant to a combat-wounded veteran.

Debbie Bennett, co-founder of Operation Care Package based in Manhattan, will receive a civilian volunteer award from Jesse Iwuji, a Surface Warfare Officer in the Navy Reserves and former track and football player at the United States Naval Academy who will serve as an ambassador for Stars & Stripes Weekend.

Bennett also is the local coordinator for Wreaths Across America, uniting Lincoln-Way School Dist. 210 ROTC, the Providence Men’s Club, numerous fire departments and others to place thousands of wreaths at the cemetery with transportation assistance from the Will County Farm Bureau.

Before the ceremony, the Navy Great Lakes Ceremonial Band will perform and the Native Veterans Group of Illinois will present three Eagle Staffs, as often seen at Chicago Blackhawks games’ opening ceremonies, while a drummer performs a ceremonial flag song.

After the ceremony there will be a performance by “America’s Got Talent” singer Sal Gonzalez, a Marine Corps veteran who works with the Wounded Warrior Project.

Veterans also will be honored in other ways.

Medal of Honor recipient Allen J. Lynch will be recognized during pre-race ceremonies July 1.

“You’ll feel the patriotism all weekend,” Paddock said. “NASCAR appropriately and genuinely honors our service men and women in a remarkable way. It’s part of the fabric of the sport.”

In advance of Stars & Stripes Weekend, Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Chip Ganassi Racing, visited Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, threw the first pitch at a Chicago White Sox game and asked for contributions to help active-duty military and veterans through Chicagoland Speedway’s charitable entity Racing Advocates for Community Enrichment (with donations accepted via www.ChicagolandSpeedway.com/Vets until midnight July 1).

Stars & Stripes Weekend includes NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overton’s 225 on June 29, NASCAR Xfinity Series Overton’s 300 on June 30 and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton’s 400 on July 1, with a pre-race concert on the infield grass by Randy Houser presented by Chicago’s New Country BIG 95.5

“It’s the one time of the year the best stock car drivers on the planet come to our market in the south suburbs,” Paddock said. “On Friday night it’s very exciting to watch the trucks race under the lights. Sunday is the big one with 40 cars going nose to nose, racing to punch their ticket for the 10-week playoffs.”

Chicagoland Speedway

Fan Zone pit passes, pre-race Gatorade Victory Lane access, viewing of the drivers’ red-carpet walk to the Drivers’ Meeting and Q&A sessions with drivers are among the ways fans can gain access to the action during Stars & Stripes Weekend at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet.

Fan Zone pit passes, pre-race Gatorade Victory Lane access, viewing of the drivers’ red-carpet walk to the Drivers’ Meeting and Q&A sessions with drivers are among the ways fans can gain access to the action during Stars & Stripes Weekend at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet. (Chicagoland Speedway)

Opportunities to get beyond the grandstands include pit passes, access to Gatorade Victory Lane and Q&A sessions with drivers.

“This weekend is all about access. We get you past the gates and under the ropes and in for driver introductions and into the pits and garage areas,” he said. “It’s unprecedented how much access this sport provides.”

Kids-only autograph sessions with drivers, a mobile gaming theater, other music performances and more will be offered at the speedway, a 1.5-mile paved oval race track and one of 13 racing venues, including Daytona International Speedway, owned by International Speedway Corporation.

“Even if you’re not an avid fan of stock car racing there is so much more to the weekend with music and camping and drivers’ Q&A and autograph sessions and radio station remote broadcasts,” Paddock said. “The atmosphere is all about pageantry with a lot of pomp and circumstance.”

Schedule: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overton’s 225 on June 29 (parking lots open at 1 p.m.); NASCAR Xfinity Series Overton’s 300 on June 30 (lots open at 8 a.m.); and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton’s 400 on July 1, with a pre-race concert by Randy Houser presented by Chicago’s New Country BIG 95.5 (lots open at 7:30 a.m.).

Admission: Starting at $35 June 29, $50 June 30 and $65 July 1; additional $55 for pit pass; For kids 12 and under admission is free June 29 and 30 and discounted $25 July 1; Free for all to attend Honor Ceremony.